Fr Robert Hendrickson

Dear Friends,

Today I had the privilege of attending the ordination of three people with ties to Saint Philip’s to the diaconate. Kelli Joyce, our Communications Director along with Alison Lee, our former Senior Warden and David Carlisle, our Seminarian Intern this year were all ordained as deacons en route to being ordained as priests (which will happen for all three at Saint Philip’s on December 21st).

Part of the joy for me was in knowing the deep faith of each. I have known Kelli the longest - she and I met when she was at Yale and I was at Christ Church, New Haven. I was struck at the time by her earnest faith, intellect, and sense of purpose that seemed driven not by her ego but by her love of Jesus. That’s a quality that can’t be manufactured or “turned on.” You can sense when someone is on fire because Christ has spoken some word of love to them and Kelli had that spark.  As our communications director she has, over and over, sought to prioritize bringing in new people - people who don’t look or act or think like us. In other words she has been reminding us of our first call to preach the Gospel to all people not just the ones with whom we think we might like to share tapas or tea.

I got to know Alison as I was interviewing here when she was senior warden. I remember thinking to myself that, whatever happened with the rector search, this was a person with whom I wanted to keep up. She had a decisiveness and direction that will be a huge asset in a Church that is so often driven by the need to simply do what we’ve always done when doing what we’ve always done has driven us to a point where the average Episcopal church’s attendance, nationwide, is 57 people. Alison had, at her fingertips, the names and backgrounds of people across the church - she knows the people of Saint Philip’s in a way that was a joy to see as a candidate for rector. She thought in terms of relationships not systems or bureaucracies at a time when people are starving for real connection and authentic relationship.

David and I have had some of my richest discussions of the year. Many of you won’t know him as his primary work has involved investigating the possibility of starting an intentional community for young adults to serve the marginalized of Tucson. David has a doctorate in classics and could easily have coasted on his academic credentials to a tenure track position. However he has followed the prompting of the Spirit to go into ordained ministry. He has a passion for community and committed discipleship that is wonderful to see. He will bring gifts of teaching, scholarship, and more to any parish he is called to lead. On top of that he is an integrative thinker with a quick eye for what is possible not just what is acceptable.

I could say much more about each of these people whom Saint Philip’s has had a part in forming for ministry. Today I found myself lost in prayer for them as Communion was shared. My prayer for them at the ordination is one that I share with and offer you now:

May they know you, Father. May they know you in prayer and in the breaking of Bread. May they know you when they hold an infant at the font and an elder at death’s door. May they know you in the long swell of a well sung anthem and in the silence of the brief moments before mass. May they know you in the pause between the sermon and the Creed. May they know you in the shared intake of breath before the Lord’s Prayer is sung. May they know you in clouds of incense and the sweet smell of dusk. May they know you in the lonely footfalls that come on the way to leading morning prayer for a congregation of One. May they know you in the rejection of having not one coin to share with the veteran begging on the corner of River and Campbell. May they know you when a flag unfolds at a veteran’s funeral. May they know you when someone leaves the Church in anger and when someone joins the Church with joy. May they know you when amazing grace is found and when paradise seems lost. May they know you when faith, hope, and love seem so, so scarce. May they know you at love’s awakening when a marriage seems right to bless. May they know you when sin divides day from night and divorces husband from wife. May they know you when Confession strains the bonds of Confirmation and Communion. May they know you at the break of day. May they know you at nightfall. May they know you when the Spirit’s voice goes calm. May they know you when your fatherly voice turns hard. May they know you when Christ’s wounds feel so near.  May they know you when their first mass is begun and when their last is said. May they know you today. May they know you tomorrow. May they know you.

Robert